Legal Aid in Cambodia: Practices, Perceptions and Needs - PRAJ

Legal Aid in Cambodia: Practices, Perceptions and NeedsA Study based on a National SurveyiFOREWORDThe Royal Government of Cambodia approved an Action Plan for its Legal and JudicialReform Strategy on April 29, 2005. One of the objectives of the Action Plan is theenhancement of the quality of legal processes and related services in Cambodia, including theprovision of high quality legal aid services. This study, including the national survey onwhich it is based, is a first step towards meeting this objective.The study was conceived against a background consensus that access to justice is animportant right to be enjoyed by everyone irrespective of their socio-economic and politicaldifferences.In Cambodia today despite the Royal Government’s efforts to enhance access to justice thereare critical gaps in the provision of legal aid services to the poor. To the extent that they aremade available, key legal aid resources such as access to legal information, legal literacy andlegal services – basic prerequisites for harnessing the services of a legal and judicial system –are largely provided by NGOs (non-governmental organizations). Meanwhile legal aid needsare widespread, and increasingly felt.This study therefore has urgent and timely information for policy makers, Government anddonor agency officials, community leaders, and others. It will help provide direction foreffective programming and intervention in the field of legal aid, and ultimately for solutionsto legal aid problems that will bring benefits to all Cambodians.H.E. Sum ManitChairman of the Permanent Coordinating Bodyof the Council for Legal and Judicial Reform,Royal Government of Cambodia